Acts 23:1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Americans celebrate Memorial Day on the last Monday of May each year to honor those who died while serving in the armed forces. As the day approached in 2017, there was a news report about a 23 year-old Jamaican-born immigrant paratrooper who died in Iraq. America was his adopted home and it was his second tour of duty as he had prior service in Afghanistan. That is a lot for such a young man I thought. As his photograph was projected on the television screen I thought how smart and perfectly groomed he looked in his uniform. Neighbors said he was a very nice, calm, and “cool” young man who often spoke of his pride in serving his country. When I looked at his eyes however they seemed sad and vacant and I wondered at what point in his career that picture had been taken.

My next thought was about his family. How sharp the pangs of pain must be. He was so young and full of promise. And then I wondered about the men and women who volunteer to go into the armed services knowing full well that they may not survive. It is certainly not for the money and though they may have some romantic notions of glory, I’m sure they know it is a rough ride to the top, if they make it at all. So it comes back to the basic love of country and a sense of duty.

“Duty” is such a small word but when duty is executed with enthusiasm and commitment, it is a refiner of the soul. When I think of people in the armed services, I think of Samson whose purpose was determined by God before he was even born. The angel of the Lord told his mother, “You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and give birth to a son.” In defining his purpose the angel said, “No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” (See Judges 13:1-5).

Wars have always been fought and they will continue to be fought. To the families who lose husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters in the process, please know that heaven takes note of your loss. They chose to do their duty and demonstrated the kind of love Jesus was describing when he said: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13- KJV). We are truly grateful.